Dispensing pouch



Sept. 4, 1923.

1,467.009 J. PETERsoN DI SPENS ING POUCH Filed April 30 1921 mmm vs Patented Sept. 4, 1923.

JONATHAN PETERSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

ASSIGNOR TO COMBINATION MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE DISPENSING POUCH.

Application tiled April 30, 1921. Serial No. 465,898.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JONATHAN PETERSON, a. citizen of the United States, and resident of New York city, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dispensin Pouches, of which the following is a speci cation.

My invention relates to improvements in the packaging art, and is more particularly directed to an 'improved package and container especially adapted for comminuted tobacco..

An important object of my invention is to pxroduce a package that combines thoroug protection against contact with air, convenience in removing the tobacco, and cheapness of production.

y invention is an improvement in individual tobacco packages, particularly the type adapted to be carried in the pocket and 'containing comminuted tobacco, as at least one of the three characteristics above mentioned is sacrificed in these packages. More particularly my package is an improvement over the cloth bags in which cheaper tobacco is packaged, which sacrifice protection against the air, and also over the packages `employing lithographed metal containers,

which are relatively expensive and increase the cost of the package very substantiall but which are almost universally used 1n packagin the better grade of smoking tobacco. y improved container is designed to combine the protection aorded by the metal container with cheapness of production, the principal advantage of the cloth bag type.

Another object is the provision in my improved package of means for readily discharging the tobacco in a very convenient manner under ordinary conditions of use. In the preferred form the package may be opened and the tobacco poured accurately therefrom into a pipe bowl or cigarette paper without requiring the use of both hands.

I have, moreover, provided a package that is extremely cheap to produce, not only because it may be constructed of material, such as paper, which is much less expensive than the metal em loyed in the usual tobacco bags without sacrificing the requisite protection of the tobacco against air; but also through the particular arrangement of parts which makes the container easy to fill and close'by automatic machinery on a quantit basis.

In the preferred form shown, I ave also produced a container that will protect the tobacco effectively against contact with the outer air during use, even after part of the contents have been removed.

Since a principal problem in the development of ay practicablecommercial package is the provision for econom and easel in packing, together with the a ility to withstand handling and transportation without damage, I have produced a package conforming to these requirements, and which occupies a minimum of space for the quantity of tobacco contained. My improved package may also be packed readily, as it preferably is substantially rectangular in shape, and adjacent packages will support each other in the carton so as to prevent undue strain and damage during transit.

By employing a compact package, I have also produced a package which can be carried in the pocket with the least distortion and inconvenience, the employment of a iexible container aiding materially in attaining this result.

Other packages of this type heretofore devised have generally been so constructed that after they are opened their sealing properties are seriously diminished or destroyed. Another object is to produce a package free from this diii'i'culty, s0 that the tobacco is effectively protected against contact with the air from the time the package is opened until all the tobacco has been used. Other objects andadvantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a closed package embodying my invention, a portion of the revenue stamp being broken away,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section through the upper part of the package in closed position,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the upper part of the package in expanded position,

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 4 4 of Fig. 3,

I method of pouring Fig. 5 is a peispective view showing the tobacco from the package, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of package top.

The container employed in my improved packa e consists generallyof a body'portion 10 an a mouth portion 11; and since my invention resides largely in the mouth portion 11, the construction of the bodylportion 10 may be varied considerably. owever, I have found it highly advantageous to form both body portion 10 and mouth portion 1l from continuous sheet material in the general form of a bag, as this type of container may be -manufactured very readily and cheaply by standard machinery. Furthermore, provision should be made for rendering the body 10 and preferably the mouth portion 11 also, relatively impervious, which may be accomplished by employing an inner container or facin 12 of suitable material such as paraiine or glacine paper attached to the inside of the body 10V and preferably extending up into .the mouth portion 11. The container may be made of any suitable material, but the construction indicated is particularly adapted for the employment of tough, heavy paper. In any event, the mouth portion`11 should be constructed of relatively tough, flexible sheet material.

The mouth portion 11 is constructed in such a way that it may be folded over upon itself so as to lie snugly along the top of the body portion 10 when the package is closed, or it may be opened to provide a convenient means for pouring tobacco from the package accurately and conveniently. end I connect the upper edges of the mouth portion 11 throughout at least a major portion of their extent, the connection being of such a nature that it will not interfere with folding the mouth portion over upon itself so that it will lie snugly along the top of the body, as shown in Fig. 1. This is conveniently accomplished by emplo ing a closure strip 13 which is permanent y connected to opposite walls of the mouth portion 11 and overlies the major portion of their juxtaposed upper edges. More specifically these edges mav be brought together and strip 13 or otherequivalent means ma be employed to connect the edges throug out the major portion of their length to form an eicient seal throughout the Aextent of such connection. ith this construction it is necessary that the ends of the mouth portion 11 be arranged to permit said portion to be folded into closed position; and while different constructions and arrangements for this pur ose are suitable, I prefer to form these en sin the manner usual in constructing paper bags, and have provided them with inturned gusset folds indicated at 14,

To this which facilitate the infolding of the mouth portion, and also permit said portion to be expanded in a manner hereafter indicated. Furthermore, this arrangement permits the closure strip 13 to form an efficient seal at the u per corners of the container without comp ex mechanism.

VWhile closure strip 13 may be of various materials, I have found that cloth is suitable for the purpose, as this package must withstand considerable wear and strain and an rupture therein, would be decidedly detrimental to the ackagc. Furthermore, the strip may be readily and rapidly adhesively connected to the container b automatic machinery. 'For instance, t e strip may be connected to one side of the mouth portion 11 before the container is iilled, and may thereafter be turned over and adhesively connected to the other wall, providing a very rapid and'eflicient method of manufacture.

It will be apparent from Fig. 3 that when the package is in open position, as shown in said figure, the tobacco may readily be poured through a suitable dispensing opening in the mouth portion, preferably located at the apex of the tapered container end. In the specific construction shown, it has been found highly convenient to form this dispensing opening, indicated generally at *15, adjacent the center of such end, which is left free from strip 13 for that purpose. If desired the dispensing` opening may be formed by cutting away the upper edge of the mouth portion and the overlying part of the strip 13, which may readily be accomplished by means of ordinary cutters. When the mouth portion is infolded into closed position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will be evident that the sides of the mouth adjacent the dispensing opening 15 will be pressed tightly together over a considerable distance inwardly from the opening, providing a very effective seal for the package, as the strip 13 and the normal construction of the container proper provide a permanent seal at all other points.

While I prefer to forni a dispensing opening in the package, it will be apparent that the latter ma be so constructed that the user may form t e opening, this arrangement permitting the provision of a positive and complete seal for the package till the latter is actually used. This is readily accomplished by extending the closure strip 13 continuousl along the upper edge of the mouth portion 11, the strip being formed of material which may be readily cut, torn or otherwise ruptured to form a dispensing opening. In Fig. 6 this modification is shown, with the preferred point for forming the dispensing opening indicated at 16.

In the features described up to this point, the convenience and cheapness of manufacfolded mouth portion 11 -minished or disappears ture of my improved container, and its complete sealing properties, have been brought out. In order to describe clearly the constructional features which render my improved package highly convenient in use1 will indicate a preferred method of manipulating the package, though obviously the exact method of manipulation is to some extent a matter of cholce.

The package of Fig. l may be rapidly opened by unfolding mouth portion 11 and dlstending the sides thereof to permit the tobacco to flow readily to the dispensing aperture l5. This may be readily accomplished with the use of one hand only by grasping the narrow sides of the package between the thumb and fingers of one hand in the general manner indicated in Fig. 5 and compressing the package so as to cause the sides of mouth portion 11 to bulge outwardly. lf diliculty 1s experienced in attaining this result, the user may blow into the dispensing opening 15, which will necessarily distend the flexible sides of the ackage. A slight inward pressure of the fingers will hold the package in distend'ed position, the mouth portion being transversely elongated as shown in Fig. 5 and forming, with the bulged lower face of mouth portion 11, a highlyeilicient spout from which the tobacco may be poured accurately into a pipe or cigarette paper.

Furthermore, this so-called ispout construction will retain its when the package is nearly depleted,'and with the specific arrangement shown the last shreds of tobacco can readily be poured through the aperture l5 without dilliculty.

In this connection it may be noted that as the package becomes depleted, the length of the mouth portion 11, which is doubled under to form the package closure, naturally increases, thereby adding to the efliciency with which the aperture 15 is sealed. This is in substantial contrast to other packages in which the sealing efficiency is sharply diafte-r the package has once been opened for use.

While packages and containers constructed in accordance with my invention may be lgiven various contours, the-re is a distinct advantage, where the container is made of flexible material, in providing a package all the sides of which are substantially flat. I have therefore arranged the mouth portion 11 so that it may be folded flatwise. across the top of the container body 10, resting on the tobacco therein so that the top of my package shown in Fig. 1 is substantially flat. I may also employ means, such as a strip 17, extending over the inand adhesively connected to the walls of the container so as' to maintain the package in closedposition'until it is required for use. The strip 17 will of course ordinarily be the revenue stamp re'- quired by law, and a feature of my invention is t e provision of the telescoping mouth portion which may be readily retained in closed position by a revenue stamp of the usual dimensions, and which may be applied by well-known mechanism.

It will. be apparent that my invention is not particularly restricted to the specific form shown, and that both the body and mouth portion of the container, as well as the specific construction of the sealing means and dispensing aperture, may be varied ver considerably within the limits of skill of those experienced in this art. In particular, I wish to point out that my invention is not restricted to Furthermore, While it is highly advantageous for certain purposes to form substantially the entire container as a bag-shaped unit, my invention is not limited to the employment of a body portion 10 integral with the mouth portion 11.

Likewise, although my invention is primarily designed and adapted for use with' tobacco, many 'features thereof are also applicable to the packaging of other subfstances. Other changes andI variations within the limits of my invention will be apparent from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A dispensing container for comminuted tobacco, including a body portion adapted to hold a charge of tobacco, a flexible tubular mouth portion in continuation of said body portion adapted to be collapsed flatwise and folded across the top of the body portion to seal the container, and means for closing permanently the major part of the upper end of the mouth portion.

2. A dispensing container for comminuted tobacco, including a body portion adapted to hold a charge of tobacco, a flexible tubular mouth portion in continuation of said body portion adapted to be collapsed flatwise and folded across the top of the body portion to seal the container, and a sealing strip permanently closing the major portion of theu per part of said mouth section, said strip being readily rupturable to provide a dispensing opening.

3. A dispensing container for comminuted tobacco, :including a body portion adapted to hold a charge of tobacco, a flexible tubular mouth portion in continuation of said body portion adapted to be collapsed flatwise and folded across the top of the body portion to seal the container, and a sealing strip of flexible sheet material adhesively connected to opposite edges of said mouth portion to maintain them in juxtaposition and form a sealed closure therefor throughout a major portion thereof, said strip being readily rupturable to provide a dispensing opening.

4. A dispensing container for comminuted a central dispensing aperture.'

tobacco, including a body portion adapted t0 hold a charge of tobacco, a liexible tubular mouth portion in continuation of said body portion adapted to be collapsed tiatw-isc and folded across the top of the body portion to seal the container, and iiieans for permanently holding the upper edges of opposite sides of said mouth portion immediately adjacent each other with the upper edges of the outer ends of the mouth portion infolded between said sides, said means extending along said upper edges throughout substantially the entire length Ithereof to form a permanent seal for the major part of the top of the mouth portion.

5. A dispensing container for comminuted tobacco. including a body poi-tion adapted to hold a charge of tobacco, a flexible tubulai' mouth portion in continuation of said body portion adapted to be collapsed flatwise and folded across the top of the body portion to seal the container, and means for closing permanently the major part of the upper end of the mouth portion provided with a dispensing opening.

6. A dispensing container for comminuted tobacco, including a body portion adapted to hold a charge of tobacco, a flexible tubular mouth portion in continuation of said body portion adapted to be collapse Hatwise and folded across the top of the body portion to seal the container, and a sealing strip permanently closing the upper part of said mouth portion except at an intermediate point, where said mouth portion is left open to provide a dispensing aperture.

'7. A dispensing container for comminuted tobacco, including a body portion adapted to hold a charge of tobacco, a flexible tubular mouth portion in continuation of said body portion adapted to be collapsed tlatwise and folded across the top of the body portion to seal the container, and a sealing strip of flexible sheet material adhesively connected to opposite edges of said mouth portion to maintain them in juxtaposition 'and form a sealed closure therefor throughout the entire extent thereof except at an intermediate point where the upper end of the mouth portion is free from said strip, forming a dispensing aperture.

8. A dispensing container for comminuted tobacco, including a body portion adapted to hold a charge of tobacco, alexible tubular mouth portion in continuation of said body portion adapted to be collapsed {iatwise and folded across the top of the body portion to seal the container, and means for permanently holding the uppery edges of opposite sides of said mouth portion immediately adjacent each other with the upper edges of the `out/er ends of the mouth portion infolded between said sides, said means extending along said upper edges throughout substantially the entire lengt thereof to form a permanent seal for the major part of the top of the mouth portion, except at an intermediate point where the upper end of the mouth portion is free from said means to provide a dispensing aperture.

9. A package for comminuted tobacco, including a container body in which the d tobacco is packed, a tubular mouth portion in continuation of the body formed of ilexible material and closed at its upper end except for a relatively small dispensing opening, said mouth portion being collapsed iatwise and folded across the top of the body portion, and a sealing strip adhesively connected to the body portion and overlying the folded mouth portion to maintain the latter in closed position.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 9th day of April, A. D. 1921.

JONATHAN PETERSON. 

